Could the Georgia product be the Steelers’ next great center?
Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger isn’t rated as high as many of the other top centers in this year’s draft class, but he could still become a quality starter at the NFL level.
The basics on Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
- Position: Center
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Size: 6’4, 298 pounds
- Age: 22 years old
- Projected draft round: Round 3
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger scouting report
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger isn’t the strongest or most athletic lineman in this year’s class, but he might be the nastiest. He has the ideal mentality for an NFL interior offensive lineman, wanting to drive every defender he blocks into the dirt. Here are four consecutive plays against Kentucky that showed Van Pran-Granger’s excellent finisher’s mentality. His effort and competitiveness are apparent on every snap (center, No. 63 in all clips).
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger rules pic.twitter.com/HWZC76KKLE
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Van Pran-Granger’s effort isn’t just a plus on his draft profile — in some ways, it’s a necessity. The reason why he’s not rated as high as the other top centers in the upcoming draft is because he lacks the same high-level physical tools. With 31 3/8” arms and unremarkable (by NFL standards) play strength and lateral mobility, Van Pran’s technique and mentality are what help him succeed.
Oftentimes, the first few moments of a play would be mediocre at best, but Van Pran-Granger’s grit, perseverance, and positioning would allow him to preserve the rep. He just never gives up.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Effort wasn’t always a cheat code, though. Van Pran-Granger’s lack of length and elite blocking radius resulted in him losing reps. When he gets turned sideways, it can be game over.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Van Pran-Granger isn’t a horrible athlete by any means, though. He has countless highlights as a puller, flying to the second level of a defense to inflict damage as a blocker.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Van Pran-Granger doesn’t have the greatest power, allowing him to get driven backwards against bull rushes.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Still, his technique and core strength do result in plays when he successfully steers a defender out of the running game.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
His relentless leg drive stood out as well. Van Pran-Granger often wins reps late, but it’s still better than the alternative. He plays through the whistle.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
And while he isn’t always a pile-mover, in short yardage he understands that the low man wins and gets the job done.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
While Sedrick Van Pran-Granger vs. nose tackles doesn’t always end well, the Georgia center is a joy to watch pulverizing linebackers. His acceleration and low center of gravity allow him to bulldoze second-level defenders out of plays.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
He can get a little overaggressive with his forward lean, ending up on the ground in some plays.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
As for the center-specific traits, Van Pran-Granger showed a good understanding of navigating traffic in the middle of the offensive line, and I didn’t see one bad snap in the games I watched.
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 24, 2024
Van Pran-Granger brings three years of SEC starting experience to the NFL, with plenty of hardware and leadership to boot. He’s not an athletic freak, but he has just enough in the size, strength, and athleticism departments to hold up as a starter in the pros, albeit with a low ceiling. In a scheme where he’s not asked to do too much, Van Pran-Granger could have a long career as a quality NFL center.
Strengths
- Finisher’s mentality on blocks
- Rapid footwork, high motor as a blocker
- High football IQ, good positioning
- Passable physical traits
Weaknesses
- Lacks ideal length
- Struggles with quicker, stronger defenders
- Technique, balance can get messy at times
What others are saying about Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com
Since 2021, Van Pran-Granger has played in the middle of feisty offensive lines. He has short arms, strong hands and good size by NFL standards. He has the hand quickness, placement and play strength to scrap against the nose, while his innate sense of positioning allows him to beat defenders to the spot moving laterally. He’ll have some ugly losses as both a run blocker and in pass protection when he starts to play too far forward or his footwork gets sloppy in space. It doesn’t always look controlled or clean, but he’s a fighter who usually finds ways to get his guy blocked. He should become an early NFL starter as a Day 2 selection.
Brandon Thorne of Bleacher Report
Van Pran has a squatty, sawed-off and thick build with good natural leverage and play strength… Overall, Van Pran is an experienced, battle-tested leader with the play strength, demeanor and skill as a run-blocker to earn a backup role right away. He can compete for a starting job early in his career in a downhill run scheme with a heavy play-action/RPO-centered pass game that will allow him to play aggressive and physical… GRADE: 6.7 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round).
Chris Pflum of Big Blue View
Sedrick Van Pran projects as a starting center in the NFL and should be able to take a starting job immediately as a rookie. He has a great combination size and athleticism and should be able to execute any blocking scheme commonly used in the NFL. He’s also a smart player who should be able to call protections and identify pressure packages at the next level. Van Pran is by no means “weak”, but his future team will want to work with him to develop his play strength over time. He’s great at using his core strength and positioning to create openings or seal off defenders. However, being able to truly move NFL linemen off the line of scrimmage will only improve his game.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger’s fit with the Steelers
Van Pran-Granger fits best at the NFL level on an offensive line with two capable guards that can mask some of his deficiencies. Additionally, his lack of great size and strength but high football IQ and second level blocking make him a great fit for a zone running scheme. The Steelers fit the bill in both cases. If Pittsburgh fails to find a center in the first two rounds, Van Pran-Granger will be among the best available late on Day 2, or even early on Day 3.
Van Pran-Granger’s experience and pure effort project him as a prospect who could start in the NFL, and if he can improve some aspects of his play strength, agility, and technique, he could have a long career there. His nastiness as a blocker and ability as a puller should make him an attractive option in the draft.
TL;DR: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger is understandably a tier below the 2024 NFL Draft’s best centers due to his lack of elite traits, but he’s still a rock-solid prospect. Van Pran-Granger’s effort is incredible — he’s a nasty, aware blocker with enough physical tools to start in the NFL at some point.
What are your thoughts on Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!